Gate-operating means



Dec, 2, l 924.

1,517,316 J. B. RODGERS GATE OPERATI NG MEANS Filed April 22 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dem 2 1924- I GATE OPERATING MEANS Filed April 22.

1924 4 sheets-she Patented ee. 2, 1924.

trance JOI-IN B. RODGERS, 0F HAMBURG, ARKANSAS.

Application filed April 22, 1924.

T0 all lwhom t may concern: y

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. Ronenas, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamburg, in the county of Ashley and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Grate-Operating Means, ot which the tollowing is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be used for operating a gate, the device being ot particular utility in connection with a railroad gate at a high-way crossing, although the mechanism claimed is 01"" general utility, and need not be used at the place above specified.

Generally stated, the invention aims to provide novel meanspfor shifting a weightsupporting carriage along the gate, thereby to over-balance the gate and to cause an opening and a closing or" the gate, novel means being supplied 'for giving an audible signal whilst the gate is being operated.

It is within the province ot the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices ot that sort to which the invention appertains. Although a preterred form yhas been shown, many alterations are possible, within the scope ot what is claimed, and such alterations may be made, without in anywise departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a plan: Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 ot Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 ot Figure 1; Figure 5 is an elevation showing train actuated means for controlling thegates: Figure 6 is a detail enlarged from Figure 5: Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 ot Figure 6: Figure 8 is an elevation showing parts which may be added to the gate. Y

The device includes a support 1 comprising a base 2 carrying Va post 3. .A shaft 4 is mounted to rotate-.in the upper end oi theV post 3 and has a squared intermediate portion 5 on'which a gate 6 is mounted, the construction being such that when the gate is swung vertically, rotation will be imparted to the shaft 4. Any suitable means may be supplied for supporting the' outer end of thegate 6, a pivoted prop 7 being mounted on the outer end of the gate. if desired. The gate 6 is carried intermediate its ends by the part 5 of the shaft' 4a counterweight 8 being held on the inner` and Serial No. 708,274.

shorter end of the gate by a means rwhich will be alluded to hereinafter.

rEhe gate 6 carries a lateral track 9, extended on both sides of the shatt 4 which carries the gate. rlihe track 9 embodies an outer rail 10 having arms 11 which are mounted in the gate 6. The track 9k includes, further, an inner rail 12 which is disposed parallel to the'rail 1() and is held in place by braces 14, extended between the outer rail 10 and the gate 6. At this point it may be observed that the counterweight 8 is held on theinner end of the gate by the brace 14 and the arm 11 which are at the inner lend et the gate as indicated in Figure 2.

A weight-supporting parriage 15 is mounted to move along the track 9, parallel to the gate G. The carriage 15 is of rectangular form and comprises side rails 16 and 17, the side rail 17 having a downwardly curved end18. The side rails 16 and 17 are connected by end bars 19, and between the' end bars 19 extend inner supports 20. Hangers 21 extend downwardly from the rails 16 and 17 ot' the carriage, at the ends thereof. Axles 22 are supported for rotation on the rails 16 and 17 of the carriage 15 and carry wheels 23 adapted t0 move along the rails 10 and 12 of the track 9 on the gate 6, the wheels 28 being supplied with flange 24. @operating with the inner surfaces of the rails 10 and 12 ot the track 9. In orderto hold the carriage 15 on the track 9, axles 25 are mounted in the hangers 21, the axles carrying wheels 26 cooperating with the lower edges of the rails 10 and 12 of the gate-track 9. Rods or supports 27 extend between the lower ends of the hangers 21 at each side of the carriage 15. weights 28 being mounted removably on the rods 27,;

it being possible lto support any desired number of weights on the rods 27. so as to varvthe total weight of the carriage 15. Then anv weight 28 is removed, its place mav be taken bv a block ot wood, or the like. but since the block of wood may be shaped like vthe weight, no specific showing*V` of the block is necessary.k The weights, thus are prevented from movinglengthwise of the rods 27. A shaft 29 is mounted on the rails 16 and 17 of the lcarriage 15, between the axles 22. and carriesa grooved wheel 30 disposed between the parts 20 of the carriage, as shown best in Figure 3.

will be clear to those skilled in the art,

The means for shifting the Weight-carriage 15 along the track 9, in order to secure an opening and a closing of the kgate 6, embodies a lever 31 ulcruined at 32, intermediate its ends, on the base 2. The lever 31 extends upwardly between vthe parts 2O of the carriage 15 and has a curved upper end 33, there being a guide slot 34 in the curved end 353 ot' the lever, and in the body .portion oic the lever, as Figure 1 will make manifest. The grooved Wheel 30, which is supported'or rotation on the carriage y15, moves in the slot of the lever 31. Any suitable means may be provided for `swinging the lever 31, depending` upon the particular use to which the device is to be put. It the gate 6 is to be employed as a high- Way crossing gate at a railroad, recourse may be had to a longitudinally movable member 35, adapted `to be opt ated Viffron'i train, and connected to the 'lower end of the lever 81 by oppositely extended retractile springs 36. Since `the gate operating mechanism which forms the subject matter ot this application can be operated, actuated and used in a variety ot Ways, the application has not been limited by the showing of any particular means whereby the gate may be controlled 'by a train.

Assuming that the carriage 15 is to be moved along the track 9, it is desirable to limit, yieldably, the movement or' the cai'- riage, When the carriage arrives at the ends 'of the track 9. Having this consideration in mind, plungers 3'? are mounted for recipiocation in the braces 14 and in the arms 11 vand carry adjusting nuts 38 adapted to cooperate With the arms 11. The pluiigers 37 are provided with nuts or abutments 39. Compression springs 40 surround the plungers 37 and are located between the 'parts 14 and 11 of -the track 9, the end bars 19 ot the carriage being supplied with depending projections 4l, adapted to engage the inner ends -ot the plungers 37, when the carriage l5 is moved to and fro. the movement ot the carriage being cushioned, at the ends Ot the travel ot the carriage,l in a Way Which when .Figure 2 is examined. g c

An upstaiiding bracket 42 is secured to the gate 6 and on the bracket, an angularlatch '43 is tulcrumed intermediate its ends. A retractile spring 44 extends between one 'end of the latch 43 and the bracket 42, and tends to swing the other end ot the vlatch downiWardlyuinto the Vpath oi the inner end of the carriage 15, under circumstances which yWill be pointed out hereinafter. vThe post 3 carries an zupwardly extended oi'lset releasing 'member 45, adapted to cooperate "with 'the latch 43, in a Way Which will be 'understood after the description ot the'operation ofthe device has been explained.

When longitudinal movement is imparted to the member 35, in one direction, the corresponding` spring 36 tilts the lever 31 oii its ulcrum 32, and, since the Wheel 30 on the carriage 15 moves in the slot 34 of the lever 31, the carriage 15 is carried to the right in Figure 1, beyond the pivotal mounting 4 of the gate 6, the carriage moving along the track 9, the gate being overbalanced, and being caused to open, the movement oit the carriage 15 being cushioned by the springs 40 which are at the right hand end ot Figure 1. Referring to F igure 1, it will be observed that the releasing member 45 on the post 3, engages thelatcli 43 and holds up the latch. so that the cai" riage 15 can move to the right, as aforesaid, the latch Yriding for a time along the side rail 17 of the carriage, and the said side rail ultimately moving clear of the latch, as is made manifest by the dotted line showing of Figure l.

l/vlhen the member 35 is moved in a direction opposite to that above alluded to, the

Alever 31 Ashifts the carriage 15 to the lett, 1

17 and engaging the rear end of the carriage 15 to hold the carriage against moving to the right Whilst the gate (S -is swinging trom the dotted line position of Figure 1 to the solid line posirtion ot that ligure, it being observed that, in the absence ot the latch, the cai'- riage 15 might slide 'to the right, during the closing movement ot the gate, tilt the lever i551, expand one ot the springs 38 and bring the closing movement of the gate to a stop betere the gate had arrived at the solid line position `of Figure l. Just before the gate reaches the solid line horizontal position ot Figure 1, the member 45 on the post 3 disengages the latch 43 trom the inner ent 'of the carriage 15, and the carriage, the efore, is set tree. so that it may be moved to the right in Figure 1 when it is desired to open the gate.

It is contemplated `that a signal shall be given audibly Whilst the gate is being opened and closed, and. to the end that this Amay be accomplished, there 'is provided a gate-operated signal mechanism. including' gear Wheel 46 mounted on the squared portion 5 of the gate shattrl, the gear Wheel 46 meshing with a pinion 47 on a shaft 48 iournaled in a bearing 49 'on the upper end 'of the post 3 the 'shaft`48 carrying a beveled pinion 50 'meshing with a beveledpinion 51 on a vertijcal Vshaft 59, journaled in the lower portion of -an annular 'frame 53 vsecured 'by brackets 54 to the bearing 49, the upper end or" the llO adapted to cooperate with the gongs 60.

of a bracket 57 carried by the frame 53. A'

cross piece 58 is secured at 59 to the lower end of the tubular bearing 55 and is located within the frame 53. Gongs 60 are carried by the ends of the cross piece 58. Arms 61 are pivoted to the shafty 52 for vertical swinging movement and carry strikers 62,

collar 63 is mounted for vertical sliding` movement on the shaft 52, and links 64 are pivoted to the collar 63 and to the arms 61.

In view of what has been stated hereinbefore, it will be obvious that when the gate 6 is opened or closed, rotation will be imparted to the shaft 4, the shaft rotating the gear wheel 46, and rotation being imparted to the shaft 48 by way of the pinion 47. The beveled pinions 50 and 51 rotate the shaft 52, and the arms 61 swing outwardly and upwardly, after the manner of a ily-ball governor, the strikers 62 coming into contact with the gongs 60, and an audible signal being given, to the end that persons'approaching the gate 6 may be admonished that the same is opening or closing.

Should it be desired to operate the gate, or a pair of gates, from a moving frame, recourse is had to the structure shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The movable members are designated in Figure 5 by the numerals 35 and 35a, the numeral 31 denoting the le ver of one gate, and the numeral 31a denoting the lever of the other gate, the springs being shown at 36 and 36a, Figure 5 being compared with Figure 1, in order to tie up the two figures. A rock arm 80 is mounted intermediate its ends for swinging movement, the upper end of the rock arm being pivoted to the member 35, and the lower end of the rock arm being pivoted to a link 81 which, in turn, is pivoted to the member 35. A substantially vertical lever 82 is provided and is fulcrumed intermediate its ends, a similar lever 83 being shown. The upper end of the lever 83 is pivoted to a slidably mounted horizontal operating member 84. The upper end of the lever 82 is pivoted to `a slidably mounted horizontal operating member 85.

A shaft 86 extends transversely of the track 88 and is mounted to rock in bearings 87. A disk 89 is securedv to one end of the shaft 86 and is provided with outstanding projections 90, between which moves a lever 91, mounted to swing on the shaft 86, a retractile spring extending between the lever 91 and one of the ties 105. The numeral 93 marks an arm on the shaft 86 and remote from the lever 91. The arm 93 is pivoted to the operating member 84. This construction is duplicated, and the description may be condensed into a catalogue of parts, the numeral 95 designates a shaft like the shaft 86, the lever appearing at 94, the arm at 96 and the disk at 97, the arm 96 being pivoted to the operating member 84. A shaft 98 carries a lever 99 and has an arm 100 pivoted to the operating member 85, the disk of the shaft 98 being marked by the numeral 101. A shaft 102 is provided and carries a swinging lever 103, the arm of said shaft being designated by the numeral A 104 and being pivoted to the operating member 85.

A train proceeding in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 5 engages the lever 91 and closes the gates through a train of elements comprising the arm 93, the member 84, the lever 83, the member 35, the link 81, the rock arm 80, the member 35 and the levers 31a and 31. The gates are opened when the train engages the lever 99. In the event that the train is moving in the direction of the arrow B, the gates are closed by means of the lever 103 and are opened by the operation of the lever 94.

In Figure 8, the post appears at 106 and the gate at 107, the prop being shown at 108. An electric lamp 109 is mounted on the gate and a rotary switch 110 is interposed in the circuit 111 of the lamp, the switch being mounted on the post 116. The gear wheel, corresponding tothe gear wheel 46, is designated by the numeral 112, and has a projection 114 adapted to cooperate with the switch 110. 'Ihe construction is such that the switch 110 will be operated to light the lamp 109 when the gate 107 is lowered, and will be operated to extinguish the lamp when the gate is raised.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a gate pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having a track, a weight-carriage movable along the track to open and close the gate and means for moving the carriage along the tracl.

2. In a device of the class described, a support, a gate fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the support, a track mounted on the gate, a weight-carriage movable along the gate to open and close the gate, and a lever fulcrumed on the support and engaged slidably with the carriage to move the carriage along the track.

3. In a device of the class described, a gate mounted intermediate its ends for swinging movement, a track on the gate, a weight-carriage movable along the track to open and to close the gate, means for moving the carriage along the track, a latch mounted on the gate and co-operating with the carriage to hold the carriage against retrograde movement whilst the gate is moving to closed position, and means for releasing the latch from the carriage about the time that the gate arrives at closed position.

4. In a device of the class described, a support, a gate pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the support, a track on the gate, a carriage movable along the track, to open and close the gate, means for moving the Carriage along the track, a latch on the gate and cooperating With the carriage to hold the carriage against retrograde Ymovement Whilst the gate is moving toward closed position, and a releasing member on the support and coacting With the latch to disengage the latch from the carriage about the time that the gate arrives in a closed position. f

5. In a device of the class described, Va gate mounted for swinging movement at a point intermediate its ends, a track on the gate, a carriage movable along the track to open and close the gate, means for moving the carriage along the track latch means cooperating With the carriage to hold the carriage against retrograde movement Whilst the gate is closing, and mechanism for disengaging the latch means from the carriage about the time that the gate arrives at a. closed position.

6. In adevice of the class described, a support, a gate pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the support, a track mounted on the gate, a Weight-carriage movable along the track to open and close vthe gate, a lever fulcrumed on the support and engaged slidablT With the carriage to move the carriage along the track, and means assembled with the track for cushioning the carriage When the carriage arrives at the ends of its travel on the track.

7. In a device of the class described, a support, a shaft jonrnaled in the support, a gate secured to the shaft and constituting means for rotating the shaft when the gate s opened and closed, a track on the gate, a Weight-carriage movable along the track to open and close the gate, means for moving the carriage along the track, an audible signal mounted on the support, and mechanism for operating the signal from the shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signa ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN B. RODGERS. Witnesses R. W. BAIRD, J.-T. RoDGnRs. 

